A BRUTAL thug who targets frail old women is stalking the streets of Birmingham again.

Several terrified elderly women have been attacked in Great Barr and Perry Barr in the past three weeks.

The muggings are very similar to another series of assaults which happened in the same areas earlier this year.

The spate stopped suddenly after one 79-year-old victim was knocked unconscious and left with a broken knee. She is now permanently disabled.

Detectives now fear the same man, who they branded as "a nasty piece of work", is responsible for the new attacks.

And Det Con Vicki Scott today made this plea to the public: "Help us get him off the streets before someone else is hurt."

In both series of attacks, elderly women were approached from behind while walking along the street and had their handbags snatched. The attacker sometimes rides a mountain bike.

This latest spate began on November 2 when:

* A 73-year-old woman walking in an alleyway off Glendower Road, Perry Barr, had two bags stolen from her.

* Five hours later, at 1.10pm, a 71-year-old woman was shoved in the chest and had her handbag stolen while in Tower Hill, Great Barr.

* The next incident happened five days later in Glendower Road, Perry Barr, when an 82-year-old was attacked.

* The thug struck again in Beeches Road, Great Barr, on November 14 when a 66-year-old woman had her bag wrenched from her shoulder.

* The last attack happened in Walsall Road, Perry Barr, on Saturday, when the eldest victim, aged 86, was dragged to the floor as the thug pulled her bag from her arm and rode off on a bike. The pensioner suffered a cut to her head.

The descriptions given by the latest victims match those given by women attacked earlier this year. Det Con Scott, from Thornhill Road CID, said: "This could be the work of the same offender.

"The descriptions and the particular nature of the crimes are similar. Last time he got more aggressive as things went on and that is happening again.

"He is a nasty piece of work and pretty cowardly for targeting vulnerable elderly ladies because he thinks they are an easy target.

"I would appeal to people to help us get him off the streets. We don't want old people to think they can't go out of their own homes."

It is believed the offender lives locally because of his knowledge of the area.

Det Con Scott added: "We are looking at why he was out of action for six months, and are looking at people who were arrested at the time and who may have been released from custody recently."

She urged women to be vigilant, not to carry too many valuables, to hide handbags underneath their coats and to stick to main roads.

The offender is described as black, aged 18-25, 5ft 9in to 6ft and slim.

Anyone with information can call police on 0845 113 5000. People can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.